"Nature Diaries - Tuarts, Terns and Time"

All images copyright Sue KalabNATURE DIARIES - TUARTS, TERNS AND TIME was my 23rd solo show. It explored trees, birds and nature’s antiquity. This exhibition hung in the hallowed halls of an old convent now Bunbury Regional Art Galleries, near the Indian Ocean. IN HER OPENING SPEECHHon Melissa Parke, former federal member for Fremantle and UN lawyer kindly commented, "Sue’s artwork is based on a firm foundation of recognition and respect. It is an education of the eyes, mind and spirit, bringing us closer to a culture that reflects our values – of inclusion, freedom of expression and a deep abiding love and appreciation for nature. Sue has more understanding than most. She has lived and worked in Aboriginal communities and her work shows us that art is a fundamental conduit that goes deep into ourselves – and can connect us deeply with nature."A PROGRAMME OF FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS engaged people directly with nature. In the gallery using my paintings as a backdrop, I invited experts to give specialist talks to champion nature: stories of TUARTS with botanist Bronwen Keighery, TERNS with shorebird scientist Nic Dunlop while Troy Bennell, Nyungar artist, storyteller and cultural educator gave an Indigenous perspective of TIME. AN EXTERNAL EVENT, a Historic Tuart Planting Ceremony with almost 50 people and children participating. We planted 200 tiny young trees nurtured from seed of ancient Tuarts that pre-dated Australia’s colonization, collected by bushland regenerator Mark Kennedy. In collaboration with City of Bunbury, we also planted 600 understorey plants to create a little forest in Maidens Reserve South Bunbury. These little Tuarts were given a blessing by Anglican priest Rev’d John Jones, former gardener to Nelson Mandela. It was a botanical time-travel, a veritable passage through time, a coalescing of continuums. SCENES FROM THE EXHIBITION AND EVENTS. Thank to all who contributed photos. Click to enlarge - you might see someone you know